Water-filter



(No Model.) 2 Sheets-Sheet 1. A. H. KOHLMEYER.

WATER FILTER.

No. 551,324. Patented Deb. 10, 1895. V7

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(Nd Model.) 2 Sheets-Sheet 2. A. H. KOHLMEYER.

WATER FILTER No. 551,324. Patented Dec. 10, 1895.

H hn \1 UNITED STATES PATENT EEicE.

AUGI QT II. KOIILMEYER, OF S". LOUIS, MISSOI RI.

WATER-FILTER.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 551,324, dated December 10, 1895. Application filed April 1, 1895. Serial No. 53,981. No model.)

To all whom it may concern.-

Be it known that I, AUGUST 11. KOHLMEYER, of the city of St. Louis, State of Missouri, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Water-Filters, of which the following is a full, clear, and exact description, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, forming part of this specification.

My present invention relates to certain improvements in the class of water-filters set forth in my Patent No. 510,348, issued December 5, 1893; and my present invention consists in features of novelty hereinafter fully described, and pointed out in the claims.

Figure I is a view, part in elevation and part in section, and illustrative of my invention. Fig. II is a view looking at the front of the filtering-tank. Fig. III is a detail vertical section, showing the lower part of the auxiliary tank, and showing the float-valve that closes the pipe leading from the bottom of the reservoir when a certain amount of water has passed through. Fig. IV is an enlarged vertical section of the ram for moving the valve of the cleaning-pipe. Fig. V is a side view of the valve and housing of the cleaning-pipe. Fig. VI is an enlarged sectional view of the air-valve of the watentank, the section being taken on line VI VI, Fig. I.

Referring to the drawings, 1 represents the filtering-tank, provided with the filtering stones 2.

3 represents the storage-tank, and 4 the auxiliary reservoir.

5 represents the supply-pipe, provided with a valve 6 that may be used to check the flow of water to the filtering-tank, and 57 is a ring within the filtering-tank and with which the pipe communicates, this ring being perforated to permit the passage of water into the tank.

8 represents a clear-water chamber in the bottom of the tank 1, with which the tubes 9 supporting the stones 2 communicate. The tubes .J are perforated within the stones, so that the water that filters through the stones is conducted to the chamber 8 through the tubes.

10 is a pipe forming a communication between the clear-water chamber 8 and the storage-tank It is provided with a valve 11 between the chamber and the tank.

12 is the service-pipe through which water is drawn from the storage-tank for use. This pipe I have shown as a continuation of the pipe 10. The pipe is provided with a valve 13.

14 represents a pipe forming a communication between the pipe 10 and the bottom of the auxiliary reservoir I. This pipe is provided with a valve 15. v

16 represents a pipe forming a communication between the pipe 10 and the top of the storage-tank. It is provided with a valve 17.

18 represents a pipe, provided with a valve 19, and which forms a communication between the upper end of the auxiliary tank 4 and the storage-tank 3, and it is preferably connected to the pipe 16, as shown in Fig. I.

20 represents a waste-pipe, and 21 a cleanout pipe forming a communication between the pipe 20 and the interior of the filteringtank I. This pipe is provided with a valve 22.

represents a pipe forming a communication between the clear-water chamber 8 and the pipe 20, and it is provided with a valve 2st.

The valve 22 (see Fig. V) is in the form of a gate-valve, and is located within a housing 26. When in the position shown in full lines, Fig. V, this valve shuts off the pipe 21, and when in the position shown by dotted lines, Fig. V, the pipe is opened for a free discharge of water from the filtering-tank. The stem 26 of this valve (see Figs. I and II) is provided with a lever 27, to the outer end of which is connected the lower end of a rod 28, secured to a piston 29 within a cylinder 30. The rod 28 is preferably formed with a joint 31.

32 represents an arm secured to the lever 27 or to the shaft 26, and extending in an op posite direction to the lever 27, and which is provided with a counterbalance-Weight 3i represents a pipe depending from the supply-pipe 5, and in which is located a valve 35. (See Fig. I.) The stem 36 of the valve 35 is journaled in boxes secured to a bracket 37, made fast to the tank 1 or to any other suitable support.

38 represents a bucket secured to the stem 30 between the arms of the bracket 37, this bucket being formed with an extended nose 39, (see Fig. IL) so that when it becomes filled with water, or partially filled with water, it will be overbalanced and will turn down into the position shown in dotted lines, Fig. II, and as it thus turns it opens the valve The bucket is preferably provided with a perforated partition 40, and it has an opening 451 in its end for the passage of the water when the bucket is turned down to the position shown in dotted lines,the escaping water passing into a suitable funnel T2, with which connects a drain-pipe 13, leading to any suitable place of discharge. Secured to the bucket 38 is an arm at having a counterbalance-weight 45, which serves to bring the bucket back to the position shown in full lines, Fig. II, after the water drains out of the bucket, and as the bucket is brought back to this position the valve 35 is closed.

46 is a pipe leading from the valve 35 to the upper end of the cylinder 30. This pipe may be provided with a valve 47.

a8 is a pipe forming a communication between the pipe at and the pipe 21, and this pipe may be provided with a valve 49.

50 represents a pipe forming a communication between the pipe 48 and the lower end of the cylinder 30, the function of this pipe being to drain any water from the cylinder that may get beneath the piston 29.

The object of the valve 22, the cylinder 30 and piston 29, coacting with the bucket 38, valve 35, and pipe 47, is to provide for an automatic opening up of a communication between the interior of the filtering-tank and the waste-pipe 20, and when this communication is opened up there will be a reverse flow of clear water from the auxiliary reservoir 4 back through the pipes 14 and 10, through the clear-water chamber 8, through the tubes 9, through the stones 2, and out through the pipe 21, this reverse flow of water continuing (and its duration may be regulated by changing the length of the stem of the float) until the float-valve at the bottom of the auxiliary tank closes and shuts off the discharge of water. The valve 22 is operated at such times by a passage of water through the pipes 34: and 4.6 to the cylinder 30 above the piston 29, this force of water causing the piston to descend and opening the valve 22 by movin g the valve to the position shown in dotted lines, Fig. V. The water is permitted to pass through the pipe 46 to the cylinder 30 at predetermined intervals by the valve 35 being opened by the tilting of the bucket 38. The Water that causes the tilting of the bucket enters through pipe 51 communicating with the clear-water chamber 8 and discharging into a funnel 52, having a hose connection 53 with the bucket 38, as shown in Figs. I and II. The flow of water through the pipe 51 may be regulated by a valve 54, so that the bucket may be caused to operate at intervals determined upon.

After the float-valve in the auxiliary tank closes, water will continue to drain from the filtering-tank until the bucket 38 moves back to its normal position under the effect of the weight 45, and then the valve will commence to close, (under influence of weight for the piston 29 will commence to rise in the cylinder 30, for the pressure in the pipe lb has been shut 0E and the water escapes from above the piston 29 back through the pipe lo and down through the pipe as to the pipe 21. The pipe 48 is of less area than the pipe to. or else the valve 49 permits a smaller flow of water than the pipe 46, so that when the valve 35 is opened the pipe 48 does not rob the pipe 46 of water between the pipe 48 and the upper end of the piston of the cylinder 30. The valve 22 of course closes just as fast as the water drains out from the cylinder 30 above the piston 29, and this time may be regulated by the valve a9, and until the valve 22 closes the water in the tank 1 is escaping through a the pipe 21, although the auxiliary reservoir has been shut off by the closing of the floatvalve therein.

Air is admitted to the tank 1 after the auxiliary reservoir is closed off, so as to prevent a vacuum in the tank and permit the free escape of water, through means of an inwardly-opening check-valve 55. (See Figs. I and VI.) This check-valve is arranged in a short section of pipe 56, against the lower end of which seats a valve 57 within a hollow extension 58 on the head of the tank 1. The valve 57 is connected by a rod 59 to the stem 60 of a float-ball 61, the stem 60 being pivoted at 62 to the inside of the head of the tank. The head of the tank is provided with a dome 63, into which the float-valve rises as the tank 1 fills with water. The parts are so disposed that the valve 57 will be closed by the float 61 before water reaches it, so that 1 when the filtering apparatus is in operation there is a small quantity of air imprisoned in the extension 58, and this air is suflicient to allow water to run from the tank 1, after the auxiliary reservoir is closed off, to an extent that will let the float 61 fall sufficiently far to open the valve 57 before the imprisoned air is exhausted; so that by the time this air is exhausted the valve 57 is opened and air is permitted to pass through the check valve 55 to avoid a vacuum being formed in the tank 1 and to permit a free passage of water from the tank after the auxiliary reservoir has been shut off and before the valve 22 closes.

The supply-pipe 5 is always open and water permitted to pass therethrough to the extent that the valve 6 will allow, but water is not admitted to the tank as fast through the valve 6 as it drains through the pipe 21, so that after the auxiliary reservoir is shut off the water falls in the tank 1, and the outer surface of the stones is washed or drenched off by water dripping upon them from the ring 57.

iVhen the water has drained from the tank 1, air from the storage-tank may be forced back through the filtering-stones by opening valve 17 in pipe 16, and this air has been found to have a very effective cleaning re-' been exhausted from the filtering-tank, and

then water commences to rise in the filteringtank, and the air that has entered through the check-valve 55 is driven through a hose or tube 64, connected to the tube 56 at one end, and connected at the other end to the storage-tank 3, preferably through means of a sight-tube (i5, and thus at each cleaning of the filter the storage-tank is recharged with air, so that a constant supply of air is main tained in the storage-tank for the purpose of forcing the service water to the point of use.

The pipe 64: or the pipe 65 is provided with a check-valve 66 that does not interfere with the passage of air from the tank 1 to the storage-tank 3, but which prevents water or air passing from the tank 3 to the tank 1.

07 represents a pipe forming a communication between the hollow extension 58 and the dome 63, so that air may pass from the former to the latter in order that there will not be a vacuum formed above the float 61 when the water begins to escape from the tank 1 after the auxiliary reservoir has been closed off.

(58 represents a collar on the piston-rod 28 within the cylinder 30, which checks the downward movement of the piston 29 by coming against the hub or projection 69, extending inwardly from the lower head of the cylinder 30. The rod 28 extends above the piston 29, as shown at 70, Fig. IV, and by coming against the upper head of the cylinder prevents the piston 29 from rising above the pipe 46.

The construction of the float-valve of the auxiliary reservoir is illustrated in Fig. III. It comprises a tube 71, secured to the bottom of the reservoir or to the inner end of the pipe 14, and Within this tube is a piston or disk 72, secured to the stem 7 3 of a valve 7 4, adapted to seat against the inner end of the pipe 14:. On the upper end of the stem 7 3 within the tube 71 is a float 75. On the stem 73 within the tube 71 is a collar 76. In the upper end of the tube 71 is a perforation or opening 77. hen the valve 22 is opened, water, under the condensed air pressure, passes from the auxiliary reservoir back through the filtering-tank, as described, and out through the pipes 20 and 21. As the water descends in the auxiliary reservoir to the float 75, the float begins to fall and continues to descend until the valve 7% closes the pipe 1i, and then the escape of water from the auxiliary reservoir is shut off.

To prevent the valve 74 pounding on its seat, I provide the disk or piston 72 and the opening 77. In the absence of some such provision, the valve is drawn to its seat by the suction of water passing through the pipe 14 before the float 75 is from under the influence of the water in the tank, so that after the valve seats the float lifts it again.

Then it is drawn down again by the suction and again lifted by the float, and this pounding of the valve is objectionable. It is prevented, however, by the piston '7 2 and perforation 7 7', for the reason that the valve cannot seat faster than the Water enters the tube 71 through the perforation 77, and this arrangement causes the valve to go down gradually to its seat, and it seats at a time when the float 75 ceases to be sustained by the water in the tank. After the valve 22 is closed, Water begins entering the auxiliary reservoir again through the pipe 14, raising the valve 7% from its seat, and as the tank fills with Water the float 7 5 rises, the water in the tube 71 being forced out through the perforation 77. The float continues to rise until the collar 76 reaches the upper end of the tube 71.

78 represents a small pipe forming a communication between the lower end of the auxiliary reservoir 4 and the pipe 1a. This pipe 78 is provided with a valve 79. The object of this pipe is to provide for the draining of the water from the auxiliary reservoir, after the valve 74: seats, should it ever be desired to remove the water entirely from the reservoir.

I claim as my invention 1. In a water filter, the combination of a filtering tank, a storage tank, an auxiliary reservoir, pipes connecting said reservoir and storage tank to the filtering tank, a clean-out pipe communicating with the interior of the filtering tank, avalve located in the last mentioned pipe, a ram connected to said valve, a supply pipe, a pipe forming a communication between said supply pipe and said ram, a valve in the last mentioned pipe, and mechanism for automatically operating the last mentioned valve at predetermined intervals, substantially as and for the purpose set forth.

2. In a water filter, the combination of a filtering tank, a storage tank, an auxiliary reservoir, pipes connecting said reservoir and storage tank to the filtering tank, a clean-out pipe communicating with the interior of the filtering tank, avalve located in the last mentioned pipe, a ram connected to said valve, a supply pipe, a pipe forming a communication between said supply pipe and said ram, a valve located in the last mentioned pipe, and mechanism for automatically operating the last mentioned valve at predetermined intervals; said mechanism consisting of a bucket secured to the stem of the last mentioned valve, a pipe for dripping water into said bucket, and a counterbalance for restoring said bucket to its normal position after it is emptied, substantially as set forth.

3. In a Water filter, the combination of a filtering tank, a storage tank, an auxiliary reservoir, pipes connecting said reservoir and storage tank to the filtering tank, a clean-out pipe communicating with the interior of the filtering tank, a valve located in the last mentioned pipe, a counterbalance Weight secured to said valve, a ram connected to said valve,

a supply pipe, a pipe forming a communication between said supply pipe and said ram, avalve in the last mentioned pipe, and mechanism for automatically operating the last mentioned valve, consisting of a bucket secured to the stem of the valve, a pipe for dripping waterinto said bucket, and a weight for restoring said bucket to its normal position. after it is emptied, substantially as set forth.

4. In a water filter, the combination of a filtering tank, a clear water discharge pipe connecting with said tank, a clean-out pipe communicating with the interior of the filtering tank, avalve located in the last mentioned pipe,a ram connected to said valve, a supply pipe, a pipe connected to said ram, a valve in the last mentioned pipe, a bucket secured to the stem of the last mentioned valve, a pipe for dripping water into said bucket, and a weight for bringing the bucket back to normal position after it is emptied, substantially as set forth.

5. In a water-filter, the combination of a filtering tank, a clear water discharge pipe communicating with said filtering tank, a cleanout pipe communicating with the interior of the filtering tank, avalve located in the last mentioned pipe, a ram connected to said valve, a supply pipe, a pipe forming a communication between said supply pipe and said ram, a valve in the last mentioned pipe, means for automatically operating the last men tioned valve at predetermined intervals, and a pipe 48 provided with a valve 49 and forming a communication between said ram pipe and the clean-out pipe, substantially as and for the purpose set forth.

6. In a water filter, the combination of a filtering tank, a storage tank, an auxiliary reservoir, a clean out pipe communicating with the interior of the filtering tank, a valve in the last mentioned pipe, pipes connecting said auxiliary reservoir and storage tank with the filtering tank, and a float valve in said auxiliary reservoir and located above the pipe leading from the filtering tank for controlling the exit of water from the auxiliary reservoir, substantially as and for the purpose set forth.

7. In awater filter, the combination of a filtering tank, a storage tank, an auxiliary res ervoir, pipes connecting said auxiliary reservoir and storage tank with the filtering tank, a clean-out pipe, a valve in the last mentioned pipe, a float valve in said auxiliary tank, and located above the pipe leading from the filtering tank, a tube in said tank through which the stem of said float valve passes, and apiston on said stem within said tube, said tube having a perforation 7 7, substantially as set forth.

8. In a water filter, the combination of a filtering tank, a storage tank, an auxiliary reservoir, pipes connecting said auxiliary reservoir and storage tank with the filtering tank. a clean out pipe, a .valve located in the last mentioned pipe, a float valve located in the auxiliary reservoir, a float valve located in the upper part of the filtering tank, a communication between the upper part of the filtering tank and the storage tank, and a check valve 55 located in said communication, substantially as and for the purpose set forth.

9. In a water filter, the combination of a filtering tank, a storage tank, a pipe connecting said storage tank with the filtering tank. a clean-out pipe, a valve in the last mentioned pipe, an extension and dome at the upper end of the filtering tank, a valve and float located respectively in said extension and dome, a communication between said extension and storage tank, and an air valve 55, substan tially as and for the purpose set forth.

10. In a water filter, the combination of a fi ltering tank, a storage tank, a pipe forming a communication between the storage tank and the filtering tank, a clean-out pipe, a valve located in the last mentioned pipe, an extension and dome at the upper end of the filtering tank, a valve and float located respectively in said extension and dome, a pipe form inga communication between said extension and dome, a communication between said extension and the storage tank, and an air valve located in said communication, substantially as and for the purpose set forth.

11. In a water filter, the combination of a filtering tank, a storage tank, an auxiliary res ervoir, pipes connecting said auxiliary reservoir and storage tank with the filtering tank. a clean-out pipe, a valve in the last mentioned pipe, a float valve located in the auxiliary reservoir, an extension and dome at the upper end of the filtering tank, a float and valve located respectively in said extension and dome. a communication between the extension and the storage tank, an air valve in said communication, and means for automatically operating said valve in the clean-out pipe, substantially as set forth.

1 2. In a water filter, the combination of a filtering tank, a storage tank, means for draining the water from the filtering tank, and a pipe provided with a valve and forming a communication between the filtering tank and the top of the storage tank whereby after water is drained from the filtering tank air may pass from the storage tank to the filtering tank and through the stones, substantially as set forth.

AUGUST II. KOHLMEYER.

In presence of- NV. FINLEY, A. 0. BROWN.

iIO 

